If you or a loved one were injured in a motorcycle accident, you may be struggling with enormous medical bills and serious injuries that leave you unable to work. But you shouldn’t have to pay the financial toll of an accident that wasn’t your fault. A Savannah motorcycle accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates can help you get a full financial recovery.
At John Foy & Associates, our mission is simple: we want to help accident victims get the money they need to pay for care and get their lives back together. That’s been our goal ever since we started as a small local law firm more than 20 years ago. Today, we are one of the biggest and most well-respected firms in the state, and we have a long track record of helping motorcycle accident victims get the money they deserve.
We have recovered several multi-million-dollar settlements for motorcycle accident victims and are here to help you next. Call us today for a free case consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Savannah.
How a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer From John Foy & Associates Can Help
Motorcycle accident victims may face a long road to recovery, with injuries leaving them in severe pain and medical debt. Under these conditions, the prospect of dealing with insurance claims and potential lawsuits can seem insurmountable.
A lawyer from John Foy & Associates can be your legal advocate throughout the entire recovery process. We can investigate for evidence, calculate the extent of your losses, send demand letters to insurers, and represent you during settlement negotiations. We intentionally keep our caseload low so we can give you our full attention and support.
We understand the losses and consequences of a bad motorcycle accident. You can count on us to fight for your interests and well-being. Call us today to learn more about how we can help you.
Why are Motorcycle Accidents Different From Other Accidents?
Modern passenger cars are loaded with safety features like seat belts and front and side airbags. Motorcycles don’t have this advanced safety gear, and that means that accidents tend to be serious. When it’s just you and the road, any accident can cause you to hit the pavement hard, and a high-speed crash is likely to throw you from your seat. This makes you much more vulnerable to serious injuries than the occupants of a car or truck.
As a practical matter, motorcyclists have another problem when they’re involved in an accident: they’re treated differently than other drivers. Insurance companies tend to buy into the image of a motorcyclist as a lawless, reckless rebel.
We don’t believe these stereotypes are true, and we know that most motorcycle riders are cautious and law-abiding—but the insurance company will use any excuse it can find to blame you or pay you as little as possible. Because of this, we caution you to never sign anything or accept money from an insurance company without talking to a lawyer.
Factors that Contribute to Motorcycle Accidents in Savannah
There are several factors in Savannah that contribute to the incidence of motorcycle accidents. Below are some of the most relevant:
- High traffic areas. High-traffic corridors in Savannah include Highway 204, Brampton Road, and the 37th Street corridor.
- Rush-hour times. Motorcycle accidents can also be more likely to happen during rush-hour traffic from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 4 PM to 7 p.m.
- Driver negligence. Negligent driving behaviors, like speeding, ignoring traffic signs, and distracted driving, all put motorcycle riders in particular at risk.
- Road conditions. Poor road conditions and accompanying road construction projects on roads and freeways pose a risk to motorcycle riders.
- Mechanical issues. Negligent maintenance or manufacturing defects can cause motorcycle parts to fail during operation, leading to devastating accidents.
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Who is at Fault in a Motorcycle Accident?
A typical motorcycle accident happens because another driver wasn’t paying close attention, not because the motorcyclist did anything wrong. Motorcycles are smaller than cars and SUVs, and other drivers tend not to notice them. When that happens, the accident is legally the other driver’s fault, not yours. Motorcycle accidents are often caused by the following:
- A driver making a turn doesn’t see a motorcycle and then cuts it off
- A driver hits a motorcycle while changing lanes
- A driver hits a motorcycle that’s traveling between traffic lanes
- Road hazards such as uneven pavement or poor weather conditions
Motorcycle accidents can have multiple causes, and that may make them more complicated than many other accident claims. Police and other drivers may be quick to find fault with the motorcyclist. But if someone else was careless or wasn’t paying attention, they are “negligent” and therefore legally liable for your injuries.
At John Foy & Associates, we start every motorcycle case by sending out an investigator to determine how your accident happened and who was to blame. We use this information to build the strongest possible case to get the insurance company to pay you the money you deserve.
What are the Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Savannah?
Motorcycle accidents can cause many kinds of injuries, and yours will depend on the way your accident happened and the type of protective gear you had on. Motorcyclists are required to wear helmets in Georgia, and a helmet can help prevent a serious head injury.
Protective clothing can prevent skin wounds and road rash. But even the very best protective gear cannot safeguard you against all injuries. We often see these types of injuries in motorcycle crashes:
- Head injuries, including life-altering traumatic brain injuries
- Injuries to spinal cords
- Neck and back injuries
- Bone fractures
- Skin injuries, including road rash
Always get medical attention as quickly as possible after a motorcycle accident. Many types of injuries grow worse or develop complications if you delay in seeking treatment. Prompt medical care gives you the best shot at a speedy and full recovery.
How Much Money Can I Recover in a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Savannah?
Georgia law allows accident victims to recover the full cost of the accident. This means you are legally entitled to your medical expenses plus other costs and damages that you have suffered. These damages might include the following:
- Medical expenses, including doctors, hospitals, surgery, physical therapy, and tests
- Prescription drug costs
- Lost wages to make up for the time you missed from work because of the accident
- The cost to fix or replace your motorcycle
- Damages for wrongful death, if you lost a loved one in an accident
It’s not uncommon for a motorcycle accident to lead to serious, long-term conditions. Insurance companies know this and are prepared to award accident victims much more money if there is a serious loss like chronic severe pain or a long-term disability. local courts
Judges don’t really believe this money can make up for a tragic accident, but they know that money can relieve financial stress, pay for ongoing treatment, and help you maintain your home and family after the accident.
How Comparative Negligence Can Impact Your Claim
Georgia practices a system known as comparative negligence to apportion damages in personal injury cases. Under comparative negligence, you can recover compensation if you are partially at fault for the accident. The catch is that any settlement or court award you receive will be reduced according to your percentage of shared fault.
This rule is especially relevant in motorcycle accident cases, where insurance companies and juries are likely to assume motorcycle riders were negligent. Our motorcycle accident lawyers can push back against claims of shared fault and attempts to shift the blame onto you.
Time Limit to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Savannah
Georgia Code 9-3-33 typically gives you no more than two years to file a lawsuit for injuries after a motorcycle accident. Once the two-year timer runs out, you’ll lose your chance to recover financial compensation through legal means. The timer starts counting from the date you sustained your injuries or the date you discovered you had them.
Two years might sound like a long time, but it can pass quickly when preparing a case. Delays in evidence collection and medical documentation can hurt your claim. The best option is to start as early as possible by talking to a Savannah motorcycle accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates.
Talk to a Savannah Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for Free
At John Foy & Associates, we’ve been helping motorcycle accident victims for over 20 years, and we know how devastating the injuries can be. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident in Savannah, you don’t have to bear the financial burden of something that wasn’t your fault.
We’ll give you a free consultation to go over your case and help you understand your options. And we won’t ever charge you anything unless we can win money for you.
